Cephaloscyllium stevensi Clark & Randall, 2011

Steven’s Swellshark

Cephaloscyllium stevensi Clark & Randall, 2011: 25, Figs 2 –7. Holotype: USNM 359091. Type locality: east coast of PNG.

Local synonymy: Cephaloscyllium stevensi Clark & Randall, 2011: 25, Figs 2 –7; Ebert et al., 2013: 330, pl. 44 (Milne Bay and New Ireland); White et al., 2018: 100, figs (PNG).

PNG voucher material: (7 spec.) CSIRO H 6820-01, female 445 mm TL, New Ireland, 2°41’ S, 150°31’ E, 240–274 m depth, between October 1988 and April 1995; NTUM 10323, female 206 mm TL, north of Taviltae, Madang, 4°31’ S, 145°31’ E, 380–382 m depth, 17 Dec. 2012 ; NTUM 11495, female 603 mm TL, east of Lat, East New Britain, 4°35’ S, 152°25’ E, 575–616 m depth, 26 Apr. 2014 ; USNM 329583, adult male 524 mm TL, USNM 358812, adult male 543 mm TL, New Ireland, 2°41’ S, 150°31’ E, 240–274 m depth, between October 1988 and April 1995; USNM 358814 (head only), female 660 mm TL, Milne Bay, 10°15’ S, 151°03’ E, 17 Mar. 1993; USNM 359091, adult female 586 mm TL, Milne Bay, 10°15’ S, 150°46.48’ E, 244 m depth, 15 Dec. 1993 .

Remarks: Very similar to Cephaloscyllium signourum Last, Séret & White, 2008 from Queensland, Australia but differ slightly in some morphological characters and also at a molecular level (NADH2 sequences, G. Naylor, unpubl. data). Endemic to PNG.